What To Consider When Redecorating

As we reminded you last year...around this time of year, as the daylight begins to last a tiny bit longer every day, a strange thing begins to happen to almost all of us in the animal kingdom. Whether we're dogs or cats or squirrels or birds - or people, we get the urge to spruce-up and refurbish our nests. It's built into our biology, and it's connected to three weather-related and biology-related facts:

FEATHERING OUR OWN NESTS

First, is the fact that we've been hunkering down in our nests for quite a long time - in search of "winter warmth" and coziness - with lots of chances to really experience how cozy (or not) our nests really are.

Second, we get an irresistible, seasonal urge to get out of our nest and bestir ourselves - but not to go too far or to do anything too strenuous, since the weather is still not great. It's an urge that is almost perfectly satisfied by "sniffing around" and shopping around for some nice new "stuff" to bring home...to feather our nests.

Third is the fact that most animals - ourselves included, for sure - have been biologically programmed to come out of hibernation and to start repairing, furnishing, refurbishing and generally feathering our own nests as Spring approaches. We do it not just for our own creature comforts - but with the needs of our families very much in mind. Spring, let's face it, is when "family-building activities" - whether they're birthings, or family outings and entertainment activities - begin to rev into high gear. So we have to get our nests in order. The "Spring-cleaning tradition" - accompanied by a variety of other nest-building activities - didn't arise by accident.

Our own fast-moving, fast-growing family continues to go at it full tilt. At the family homestead we had the wall-to-wall carpeting ripped up last year, the hardwood floors buffed-up and the walls and ceilings freshly painted. We went on a long search for, and finally found two new sofas for our living room - and, after a very long search, we found (almost) exactly the right oriental rug to bring the room together. We gave our bedroom an entirely new look - with knockout new window treatments - and a new bedspread, shams and dust-ruffle - plus two new bedside lamps and a fresh coat of paint in a snappy new color that sets off our new draperies to perfection. What a lift we get when we walk in! But we did not take our own advice and finish the room entirely: we're still planning to look for the perfectly upholstered (custom) seat cover - in the perfect color for the antique chest at the foot of our bed, so our ‘puppy' - now 13 - can jump on and off the bed easier. Another major task for us - and quite a complicated one - will be to totally re-hang our constantly growing art collection, to show it off to best advantage.

Our oldest son and his wife have been steadily adding decorator touches to their new house too, ever since they moved in: fancy moldings, a custom wine cellar with really-fancy moldings, extensive new landscaping, to screen-out the overly conspicuous consumption of their neighbors - and, nesters that they are, a home theatre. Meanwhile, our younger son and his wife have been settling into a "new" but older home and have been painting, fixing, decorating and landscaping as fast as they can, despite, or perhaps because of their busy schedules: They really need a cozy place to relax and unwind!

We've learned a lot about interior decorating over the past 36 months - and dealt with a lot of local and not-so-local suppliers too, so what better time could there possibly be to share what we've learned in this special issue...The good, the bad...and, since we've made more than a few faux pas collectively, the truly ugly aspects of redecorating.

FIRST, OUR TOP-FIVE INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS:

1. Tackle one room at a time, from top to bottom. Start by asking yourself how you really use - or want to use the room. Exactly what do you want to accomplish to make it nicer and more functional? Next, clutter-bust: Take out every single non-essential item. Then, take a hard look at what's left. What kind of "look" you want to achieve?  Do you have heirloom items, or pieces you just love, that you still want as part of the décor? Are there pieces that are worth refinishing or reupholstering? If not, bite the bullet and plan to replace them.

1. Seriously consider using a professional interior decorator: Many people think they can successfully handle this all themselves, and some can. But even the pros will benefit greatly from a "second opinion." Without one, even the most experienced amateurs will end up making some big - and very costly mistakes, we guarantee. Some people think that hiring a decorator will be "too expensive."  But, please note, shopping on your own, finding and dragging home paint and fabric swatches, and exchanging stuff that just didn't work right is incredibly time consuming...even before considering those sometimes big, and un-refundable buying/installing mistakes. Also, a good designer/decorator will have many sources you would never find on your own... and most of them can buy things at a discount from what you would pay on your own...So, all things considered, unless you're a "pro" yourself, it can actually pay to hire one.

1. Shop locally: We are incredibly lucky to be living in an area where we have a HUGE number of top-quality sources for furniture, fixtures, accessories, antiques, draperies - and for complete remodeling and refurbishing jobs of every description. A huge and added plus is the fact that all these shops - and especially the ones you'll find in this issue - pride themselves on "personal service" and offer extensive "consulting" as well as expert advice. An even bigger plus, you'll be able to take home and try-out a wide variety of items - and return them hassle-free if they don't look just right. Equally important, most of our local businesses are geared to providing service after the sale is made: If they don't do it themselves, they'll know where to send you if cleaning, repairs, touch-ups or matching or complimentary items are needed later on.

1. Don't forget the many antiques shops we're so lucky to have nearby: They can be a major source - not just for unique and special items, but often as the source of inspiration for your entire project: Many times a single "vintage" or "collectible piece" - whether it's one you own now, or one you find - will become the centerpiece around which you'll want to design an entire room. Best of all, a really good antique or vintage piece will prove to be a great investment: For one thing, the quality and durability of an older piece is often far superior to a lot of the new stuff that's cranked-out today. Second, of course, is the fact that pre-owned stuff can often be had at bargain prices. Last but far from least, good antiques and collectibles will appreciate in value, while your ‘new stuff' will simply wear out, and need to be thrown out.

1. Don't quit or move on to the next room until you're 100% satisfied with the result: Nothing is worse than spending a lot of time and money - only to have your room look still-unfinished or less than perfect. Here too is why we are so lucky to have so many great shops, great shop-owners and professional designers and decorators in our area. Use them to the fullest...That's what they're here for! 

MORE TIPS ON DECORATING SUCCESSFULLY

Seating: We put this first, because what's the sense of having a fancy-looking room if it isn't comfortable - and able to seat your family and friends so they can sit comfortably and talk comfortably? This is the most important factor by far in your "living room" and family room, but it's equally important in the kitchen, dining room and bedroom. Attractive but durable fabrics are a must, if you really want people to use the rooms - and to be comfortable. We put a lot of stress on having good firm "stuffing" (always opting for upgrades here) and on having furniture that's big enough - and sturdy enough so that people aren't afraid to sit down and be comfortable.

Proper and "Artful" mixing and matching of furniture styles and fabrics is critical, and it's really an "art": Here's where good decorators will really earn their keep! No room will look "finished" without the right mix of colors, fabrics and well-made, well-finished window treatments that really match. None of this comes cheaply - with good reason. Good fabrics are expensive to begin with and stylish ones are even more so. And really doing it right requires highly skilled labor. So don't chintz on the chintz, or the trimmings. But DO think of this as the major investment it is, and plan your whole room-decorating scheme so it will last a long time, and not fade, droop or go out of fashion. (Many of the beautiful "period rooms" you'll see in museums are still using the original fabrics from the 17^th and 18^th centuries! More reason to think like an ‘investor', and but the best you can afford when you decorate).

Carpeting: In the ‘old days' people always pulled out their winter carpets for cleaning, airing and a rest - and laid down their more casual ‘summer carpets' for a cleaner, cooler, less-stuffy look. We are still not afraid to put some of our antique carpets away for a while and to try new ones, to change the look of a room - and we'd suggest you try it too. As we noted in our last ‘nesting' issue, the right carpeting is absolutely essential to "ground", unify and warm-up (or cool down) your decorating scheme.

Artwork: Nothing contributes more to the personality of a room - or says more about YOU - than the artworks you choose. A truly "important room" - like a formal living room or dining room - requires an important piece of art, we think. Regular readers will have noted our many tips, we hope, about how to find, buy and care for art works that are truly collectible - and there are a few new tips in this issue too. Our best advice is to (a) do your homework carefully and (b) buy the very best artworks you can afford.

Frames and framing: The right frame will make every artwork look better and more "important" than it will look unframed: A cheap frame - or the wrong frame - can totally ruin the look, even of a true masterpiece.  So spend the time - and spend the money that needs to be spent - to properly frame any art you buy.

Cabinetry: Do recognize that the right cabinetry - properly designed and installed in your space - can make or break your room. In kitchens, and increasingly in bathrooms, cabinets are among the key decorating elements. One of our most-prized decorating elements - in our dining room/library - is the big, custom-made wall of floor-to-ceiling bookcases (see our ‘Collectibles' article on books, in this issue) with storage below to hide booze, stereo equipment and other "stuff" we don't use every day. Next to our dining table that can comfortably seat 16, and the 16 matching chairs, it's the best investment we ever made, where "family entertainment" is concerned.

Lamps and lighting: We'd rank these right behind art works, when it comes to really completing your rooms - and to revealing the ‘real you' - in more ways than one. The right lighting will set exactly the right "period" - as well as the "mood" or "feel" you want the room to have. And it will make you - and your guests look good (or maybe dreary and nor-so-good) too. We like to have a big "mix" of lighting and lighting fixtures and intensities: For example, chandeliers - where appropriate - with dimmers. Overhead spotlights - also with dimmers - help to set the mood, and to spotlight our bookcase and some of our best artworks. Good reading lamps in the living room and library are an absolute MUST: Your lamps must be beautiful, must have the right height and must be able to take three-way bulbs up to 250 watts. (We have dimmers on many of these too).

"Accessories" - We think the key points are (a) to make sure they are eye-catching and interesting, (b) that they match the theme or feel of the room, (c) that they be both beautiful and exceptionally well-made, (d) a bit unusual...and (e) that you don't have too many of them on display at any one time, a rule we usually break. Here too, the readers in our area are incredibly lucky to have such a big supply of retailers that specialize in lamps, accessories and antiques.

Other "Luxury touches": When most of us think of "luxury" we think of fine materials...whether it's fine wood, fine marbles or granite, handmade or hand-quarried tiles, hand-applied finishes like Venetian plaster and faux-finishes - and fine fabrics and carpets. These touches also prove to be great investments - since they increase the value of your home as soon as they're installed, last forever, and - if you have selected them with care - will actually increase in value with age.